Automatic reversing device for rope hoists



W. E. HALE AUTOMATIC REVERSING DEVICE FOR ROPE HOISTS Original le 001% 17, 1918 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 18,1926. 1,585,492

W. E. HALE AUTOMATIC REVERSING mavxca FOR ROPE aoxsws Original Filed 0m 17, 1918 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 If u Patented May 13,

Sees a;

WILLIAM E. HALF, OF FGRT VJASHINGTQN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO B. Ii. BEAUMONT CGMPANY, C I! PHILADELPHIA, EENNSYLVANIA, A CQBIPORATIOII OF PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATEC REVERQENG DEVICE FOR ROPE HOESTS.

Application filed October 1?, 1918, Serial Ito. 258,613. Renewed September 6, 1923.

My invention relates to certain improvements in hoisting apparatus and is particularly adapted to the type of hoists known as a skip hoist, i. e., a hoist in which the bucket is moved back and forth, receiving its load at the bottom and automatically discharging itat the top. 3

One object of my invention is toprovide an apparatus for actuating the mechanism so that the mechanism will be reversed at the top and bottom, also to provide means for adjusting the stop mechanism so that the hoist can be stopped any point desired and returned.

' While the invention isparticularly adapted for use in connection with skip hoists,

' it will be understood that it can be used in connection with other hoisting apparatus as well, where it is desired to move the apparatus continuously.

A further object of the invention is to construct the apparatus so that it will actuate an electric switch and will also cause the stoppage of the hoist in the event of the mechanism passing the contact points.

These objects I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a rope hoist lustrating my invention;

Fig, 2 is a side view of. the mechanism for causing the apparatus to reverse;

Fig. 3 is a sectionalview on the line 3-=3, Fig. 2; r

Fig, el is a sectional view on theline 4e l, Fig. 2; i

Fig. 5 is a view of one side of the hub of the loosely'mounted gear wheel; and

Fig' 6 is a view of the opposite side of the said gear wheel.

Referring to the drawings, 1 isa hoisting drum. 2 is a motor and on the shaft 3 of this motor is a pinion 4 meshing with a gear wheel 5 on an intermediate shaft 6 having a pinion 7 which meshes with a gear wheel 8 on a shaft 9. Onthis shaft is a pinion 10, which meshes with a gear wheel 11 on the shaft 12 of the drum 1. shafts are mounted in suitable bearings on the frame of the machine.

13 is a screw shaft adapted to bearings 1a in standards 15, and on the end of this screw shaft is a gear wheel 16 which meshes wither pinien 1? on the which These driven from the motor 2. 18 is a switch having terminals 19, 19 with which engage the contact arm 20. The contact arm is mounted on a shaft 21 adapted to suitable bearings and on the end of this shaft is a gear wheel 22 which meshes with a gear wheel 23 loose on the screw shaft 13, Loosely mounted on the screw shaft 13 is a flier 2% held in place longitudinally by one of the bearings 14; and the hub of the gear wheel 23. fhis flier is free to turn on the shaft and is frictionally held in its lowest position by a brake 25 supported by pressure springs 28 mounted on bolts 27, Figs. 2

and 4:. The flier has a suitable weight 28,

insuring its dropping after passing over the vertical center line.

On the screw shaft is a traveler 29 adapted to the screw threads of the said shaft and this traveler engages a longitudinal rib 30 on the flier, as clearly shown in the drawings, and has a clutch pin 31 which extends through the traveler so as to project given distance on each side thereof, as shown in Fig. 2. Also on the screw shaft are collars 32 and 33, which can be adjusted in relation to the traveler 29 by turning them on the screw shaft, and they can be heid in position to which they are adjusted by set screws 3 f. On the collar 32 is a clutch pin 35 and on the collar 33 is a clutch pin 36, so that when the shaft is turned a given number of revolutions in one direction the traveler will be moved in close proximity to either one of the collars and its clutch pin will engage the clutch pin of the collar, so that the traveler will turn with the collar and, as it is in engagement with the flier, it will also turn the flier.

On'the flier is a bolt 37, preferably of small diameter, held in place by a set screw 38 on one of the hubs ,of the flier and this bolt is arranged to engage the cut'away hub 39 of the gear wheel 23, which is loose on the shaft 13. hen the shaft is turning in one direction and the flier is turned with it, upon the completion of a half revolution of the flier the bolt 37 engages the face 40 of the hub 39, Fig. 5, and when it is turned in the reverse direction, upon the completion of another half revolution of the flier it engages the face 41 of the said hub." After the flier has been i lsed by the. screw shaft and the a, height, it clear of the brake 25 and after it passes the vertical center line a, Fig. 4-, its weight will cause it to drop by gravity and now turn the wheel 23, which is geared to the switch 18 through the gear wheel This movement will be suiiicient to turn the contact arm 20 into contact with one of the terminals 1.9, it), thus reversing the mechanism and causing the hoisting drum to be reversed.

In the event of the contact arm 20 passing one of the terminals 19, 19, due to failure of the mechanism to function properly, then the projection 42 on the hub 39 on the opposite side of the wheel from the faces i0, 41, Fig. 6, will come in contact with a stop 43 on the standard supporting one of the bearings l4; and will stop the contact arm 20 clear of either of the switch terminals 19, 19, and break bolt 37, so that there is no liability of the motor circuit being closed should the mechanism fail to function properly, nor of any of the parts being broken other than the bolt 37 which is easily re placed.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows :If the hoisting mechanism be applied to a hoisting apparatus known as a skip hoist, where the bucket receives a load at the bottom and discharges it at the top and returns to receive another load, the two collars 32 and areset a given distance apart, depending upon the height of the discharge point from the receiving point and the flier is in such relation to these two collars that when the bucket reaches the lowest point the clutch pin of the traveler will engage the pin on one collar and the flier will be turned on its pivot, and when it has passed over the center will fall by gravity. By reason of the sliding engagement of the bolt 3'? and the gear 23, the bolt will not abut the face 40 or all until the flier has made a half revolution and has reached the vertical center line. illhen, when the flier reaches this point, the bolt will engage the face 4-0 or il of the hub 39 and thereafter on the downward. movementof the flier under the influence of gravity the gear S will turn with the flier and likewise turn the QQ and thereby cause the contact arm 20 to movefrom one terminal to the other, reversing the motor and, consequent reversing the movement of the hoisting drum and the bucket coi'itrolled thereby. By this time the bucket will be loaded with. material and will be elevated, and as it reaches the highest point the traveler will come in contact with the other collar and will again reverse the mechanism. In the meantime the bucket has discharged its load, after which it returns to receive another lead. This movement of the bucket is continued indefinitely until the current to the motor is interrupted. Consequently, an apparatus such as above described requires very little attention, as the material being elevated is fed to the bucket from a hopper.

I claim:

1. A limiting device for electric motors comprising a screw shaft driven fro said motor; a switch, said switch including a plurality of current terminals and a movable contact member for engagement therewith; a gear wheel loose on the screw shaft; :1 gear wheel fixedly connected to the movable contact member of the switch, and intermeshed with the loose gear wheel; a flier loose on the screw shaft; a breakable bolt on the flier; a brake bearing on the flier when in its lowest position; a mutilated h ub on one face of the loose gear wheel, said hub adapted to be engaged by the bolt on the flier when the flier is at the vertical center line; two adjust-able clutch collars on the screw shaft; a traveler threaded on the screw shaft between said collars, and having means to engage said collars, said traveler being slidably connected to the flier; a projection on the loose gear wheel; a stop on the frame of the machine adapted to be engaged by the projection in the event of the movable contact member of the switch passing either of the terminals thereof, and thereby break the bolt on the flier and open the current circuit to the motor.

2. In combination, driving means: a screw shaft actuated by said means; a flier element loosely mounted on said screw sh a H a traveller mounted on said screw shaft in threaded engagement therewith and slidably engaging said flier; clutch collars rigidly secured to said shaft in spaced relation and adapted when in contact with said traveller to effect a movement of said flier: a reversing switch having relatively movable elements for controlling said driving means, said switch being operated upon predetcr mined movements of said flier; loci-(ing means for preventing movements of said relatively movable switch-elements beyond a. predetern'iined extent; and means whereby the flier is disconnected from the rcversing switch upon continued movement of the flier tending to move said relatively movable switch elements beyond said.;predetermined extent.

3.111 combination, driving means: a re versing switch therefor having relatively movable elements; means for actuating said switch upon a predetermined movement of said driving means; and locking means for limiting the range of movomentof said rclatively movable switch elements, said sec end-mentioned means including means permitting it to be disconnected from said rcversing switch upon a continued movement thereof tending to move said relatively movable switch elements beyond said range of movement.

4. In combination, driving means; a

versing switch having relatively movable Contact elements; means for actuating said elements upon a predetermined movement of said driving'means; and locking means for limiting the range of movement of said switch elements, said second-mentioned means including a fracturabile element, whereby said switch elements may be disconnected from said second-mentioned means upon a continued movement of the latter tending to move said switch elements beyond said range of movement. 7

5. Apparatus of the class described comprising driving means; a. rotatably mounted flier; an element to be actuated thereby having such 10st motion connection therewith that said flier may be moved by said means independently of said element to a position w here a further movement of the flier occurs under the action of gravity, said element being actuated by said flier during said grav ity movement; and a reversing switch actuated by said element during said gravity movement.

In witness whereof I afiix my signature.

l/VILLIAM E. HALE. 

